Diet and Fitness Tips Backed by Science!

(Guest Post)
Aromatherapy Massage is the synergistic blending of smell and touch; two powerful senses that can trigger the body’s natural ability to heal itself. Aromatherapy and therapeutic massage are both highly effective healing arts on their own. But used together, they are a formidable health alliance, capable of nurturing the body, mind, and spirit.

Aromas evoke vivid memories and initiate a flood of emotional and physical responses. The smell of an apple pie baking may transport you back to your childhood and the sense of wellbeing and comfort you experienced sitting in your Grandma’s cozy kitchen eagerly anticipating the tasty treats she always whipped up for you. When the highly sensitive cells in the upper part of your nose take in odor molecules, they signal the limbic region of your brain. This area of the brain controls the body’s basic survival functions; regulating the hormones that trigger emotional and physiological reactions. Because it operates below the level of consciousness, you may not even be aware that your olfactory system has detected an odor. At the first whiff of apple pie, you immediately begin to feel an overwhelming sense of wellbeing and your muscles relax as a cascade of hormones begins to affect every part of your body.

The importance of touch is often ignored in terms of its essential health benefits. During the first half of the twentieth century, it was firmly established that caring touch is necessary for the physical, mental, and emotional health development of children. Without it, infants failed to thrive, either dying or suffering from severe physiological or psychological deficits, despite living in an otherwise healthy environment and being given proper nutrition and medical care. But adults who are deprived of touch can also suffer emotionally and physically. Deprivation increases the levels of stress hormones, such as cortisol and norepinephrine. Touch is associated with enhanced learning and problem solving, increased physical recovery speeds, a reduced incidence of cardiovascular disease and pain relief for those suffering from chronic diseases such as arthritis or fibromyalgia.

The health benefits of both aromatherapy and massage have been known since ancient times. The Ancient Egyptians first isolated essential oils, which are complex, highly concentrated plant extracts, derived from leaves, bark, roots, seeds, resins and flowers. These aromatic oils would later become key elements in Eastern healing traditions. Massage therapy has been an element of traditional Chinese medicine for several millennia. In modern times, aromatherapy massage has been shown to be particularly effective in preventing and treating stress or emotionally related conditions such as anxiety, insomnia, headaches, digestive disorders, premenstrual syndrome and back pain.

The approximately three thousand known essential oils have very different effects that can range from calming to stimulating, cleansing to antibacterial and much more. In preparation for an aromatherapy massage treatment the therapist interviews the client to determine the specific health issues or concerns that need to be addressed. The therapist will then select one or more essential oils and mix them with a carrier oil such as sweet almond or jojoba oil. The benefits of the treatment are derived from the effects of the massage, the direct contact of the essential oil with the skin and the inhalation and absorption of the essential oil molecules through the soft tissue linings of the nose and mouth.

In addition to addressing specific health concerns, aromatherapy massage can help you maintain optimal health while rejuvenating and relaxing your body, mind and spirit.

Bio:
Hello my name is Nisha, I am the Editor for healthypages.co.uk. I love to write about health and beauty, especially Complementary Therapies, feel free to visit our site for more information about Hypnotherapy.